Electrically-heated bathtub



May 15, 1928. 1,669,773

K. H. OBER ELECTRICALLY HEATED BATHTUB Filed April 13. 1926 Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES KATHARINE H. OBER, OFBALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ELEc'rRmALLY-HEA'rED BATHTUB.'

Application filed April 13, 1926. Serial 11o. 101,754.

This invention relates to bath tubs and particularly to bath tubs designed for use by invalids and which are particularly adapted for use in hospitals, the general object being to provide a bath tub, the bottom or walls ot' which may be electrically warmed or heated so as to heat the Water in the bath tub to the proper temperature and keep the water warm or hot for a longer time than is possible where Water is drawn from the ordinary hot Water heating system.

A further object is to provide a bath tub with heating coils disposed beneath the tub for the purpose of heating the tub and keeping the water therein hot or warm for a considerable time, said tub being provided with sprays formed in the side walls ol the tub and connected to the usual hot water pipe and also to the cold water pipe.

A. still further. object is to provide means whereby one or more of the heating coils may be disconnected from the source of electricity or connected thereto, to thus decrease or increase the amount,1 of heat supplied to the tub, and also provide for heating certain parts of the tub to a higher temperature than other parts of the tub.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings Wherein:-'-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a bath tub constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of the wter pipes for supplying water to the bath tu Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line I 3-3 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on the line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 otl Figure 1; 4

Fig. 6 is a. diagram of the electrical connections of the heating units;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the front side wall of the tub showing a door whereby access may be had to the heating units.

Referring to these drawings 10 designates a tub which may be a metal tub, a porcelain lined tulo or porcelain tub. This tub is illustrated as having its side and end walls extended from the top of the tub proper downward to the iioor as at 11. I do not,

however, wish to be limited to this though preferably this ormof tub is used. The bottom of the tub 1() is disposed in spaced vrelation to the iioor, that is the outer wall 11 extends down to the floor thus holding the bottom 12 ot the tub raised from the floor and the tub is provided with the usual hot Water pipe 13 and the cold water pipe 14.

These pipes extend upward at one end ot' the tub and may be disposed either exterior-ly of the end wall 11 at that end or between this wall and the tub proper. These pipes are connected to faucets extending through the Wall of the tub preferably adjacent the bottom of the tub so that no water will sputter or splash on the invalid. I have illustrated the bottom ot' the tub being provided with inlet openings connected to the pipes 13 and 14, these inlet openings being shielded by a baille 15 but l do not wish to be limited to this construction.

Extending entirely around the tub is a spray pipe 1G having nipples discharging through perforations 17 in the wall ot the tub. This spray pipe is illustrated as being connected both to the cold water and the hot water pipes, there being valves 18 controlling the iiow of hot or cold water to the spray pipe, these valves preferably having handles extending through the Wall of the tub so that f they may be manipulated by a person within the tub. lVhile I have illustrated one spray pipe 16 one or more spray pipes disposed at dilferent levels may be used.

Below the bottom of the tub are a plurality of heating coils or units designated generally 19. These units may be of any suitable construction and each includes a coiled heating wire disposed withinan electric insulating body 20. These heating units are disposed beneath the tub and each heating unit at one end is connected to a feed wire 21. As' illustrated, the other end of each coil is connected by a wire 22 to a switch terminal 23, there being as many of these switch terminals 23 as there are coils, and there being a rheostat switch, as for instance the switch 24, adapted to be shifted so as to connect one or more of these coils to a return wire 25. 1t will be obvious that by adjusting the rheostat switch 24 that any number of the coils 19 may be connected to the return wire and thus only one or any number of the coils be energized, and either end ot' the series of heaters can be heated while the opposite end remains cool. This is desirable where a person wants to sit on an end of the tub and heat the soles of the feet without using electric current for heating the entire bottom of the tub. The wires 2l and 25 will be preferably connected to a plug 26 adapted toy be engaged with anyservice box or socket.

Preferably the wall 11 of the tub along the front of the tub is so formed to provide a hinged door l1*1 as shown in Figure 2, which may beopened to permit access to be had to the heating coils, thus providing for the repairing or replacing of the heating coils when necessary.

l do not wish to be limited to any particular form of electrical heating unit nor to any particular form of switch or to a particular arrangement of the circuit wherein these coils are mounted. It is obvious, for instance, that each of these coils might be controlled by a single switch so that each coil would be separately thrown into circuit if desired. The Wires 2l and 25 are designed to be provided with the ordinary plugfwhereby the series of coils may be plugged into a house electrical Icircuit.

While I have referred to the use of my heating appliance with a porcelain tub -or enamel tub, it .will be understood that the bottom of the tub must be of met-al, as metal is a good conductor of heat and further because porcelain is liable to crack under heat. lt is further to be understood that the heating coils and the electrical connections must be such that the electrical current is not communicated to the tub or to the water therein and that the wires and coils must be thoroughly and entirely insulated from the tub and the water.

I have shown the heating units as being spaced from the bottom of the tub so that there will be no danger of the electrical ieema current'by an chance flowing through the wall of the tub.

I claim:-

1. An electrically heated bath tub comprising an exterlor supporting portion adapted to rest 'on the oor and extending upwardly therefrom and thence inwardly and downwardly to form the tub proper with a space between the bottom and sides of the interior portion of the tub and the f loor and around the sides of the tubfand said exterior supporting portion, a series of electric heaters in the space at the bottoni of the tub and extending substantially from one end to the other thereof, and means for energizing one or any number ot the heaters of said series for heating the air in the space at the bottom and around the sides of said tub.

2. An electrically heated bathtub comprisig a tub proper, an exterior supporting wall extending around the tub proper in spaced relation to the. walls ot the latter and provided with an inwardly extending upper part that connects with the top of the tub proper and supports the latter so its bottomis in a higher plane than the lower edge of the exterior' supporting wall, the said lower edge being adapted to rest on a floor and support said bottom of the tub proper in .spaced relaton to the tioor7 whereby a closed heating space is provided under and around the tub proper, and electric heating means, in said closed heating space and provided with controlling means for :ontrolling the heat under and around the bath tub proper.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

KATHARINE H. BER. 

